Proposed Design Change
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,788
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From: Long Island, New York
Bikes: a lowrider BMX, a mountain bike, a faired recumbent, and a loaded touring bike
Proposed Design Change
I am thinking about some changes to the design of the Fiberglass Ladies Bicycle.
Here is a watercolor painting:

The changes would include fenderskirts over the wheels, hard panniers on the rear, and the fairing would be replaced with a "dump" bucket, like a wheelbarrow.
Below is a photo of the current bike:

I know many of you have seen this photo before (it's in my avatar), but maybe there are newcomers who missed it.
I don't want anyone to under-estimate the utilitarian nature of this bike. The fiberglass is heavy duty.
Should the dump bucket be one piece, forcing me to tip the entire bike, or should the dump bucket be on a hinge?
This bike will help maintain local trails, by ferrying in fresh fill.
Here is a watercolor painting:

The changes would include fenderskirts over the wheels, hard panniers on the rear, and the fairing would be replaced with a "dump" bucket, like a wheelbarrow.
Below is a photo of the current bike:

I know many of you have seen this photo before (it's in my avatar), but maybe there are newcomers who missed it.
I don't want anyone to under-estimate the utilitarian nature of this bike. The fiberglass is heavy duty.
Should the dump bucket be one piece, forcing me to tip the entire bike, or should the dump bucket be on a hinge?
This bike will help maintain local trails, by ferrying in fresh fill.
#2
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2006
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From: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, 86 De Rosa Pro, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Hotbike....will the dump bucket be functional...ie hand pumped hydralics or small servo motor (solar powered)
#3
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Long Island, New York
Bikes: a lowrider BMX, a mountain bike, a faired recumbent, and a loaded touring bike
#4
I think I would go for a low trailer for that application (or something like my Worksman front-loading trike). Putting a 100 lbs of gravel up that high would make the bike very tippy sideways and frontways (stand up and the bike tips forward!). Maybe put two 5- gallon buckets at the rear like panniers, where they could be tipped by hand.
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#5
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,788
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From: Long Island, New York
Bikes: a lowrider BMX, a mountain bike, a faired recumbent, and a loaded touring bike
I think I would go for a low trailer for that application (or something like my Worksman front-loading trike). Putting a 100 lbs of gravel up that high would make the bike very tippy sideways and frontways (stand up and the bike tips forward!). Maybe put two 5- gallon buckets at the rear like panniers, where they could be tipped by hand.
I plan to cast fiberglass panniers, no need to recycle old 5 gal. buckets.
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 16,767
Likes: 85
If you want some suggestions on your proposal from a wise and analytical head who has also carried bags of cement on utility bikes with front racks, I suggest you sign up with the iBob list (https://search.bikelist.org/) and ask Jan Heine.
He should be able to give you some technical perspectives on the front fork and geometry that may influence how you go about finalising your design.
One of the issue I foresee is how you are going to maintain stability of the front end while you tip the material from the bucket. And for what I'm worth, I'd suggest that it be hinged, but then that will likely create issues either with (a) overhang and subsequent influence on handling or (b) clearance of the bottom of the bucket over the front wheel when tipping.
And while your weight might counterbalance the load when you are on the bike, what happens while you are off the bike and filling up with your load? StephenH's suggestion of a trike overcomes some of this issue.
In fact, while I appreciate your ingenuity, I think Stephen's suggestion of using a trailer might be a better solution. Or a wheelbarrow.
He should be able to give you some technical perspectives on the front fork and geometry that may influence how you go about finalising your design.
One of the issue I foresee is how you are going to maintain stability of the front end while you tip the material from the bucket. And for what I'm worth, I'd suggest that it be hinged, but then that will likely create issues either with (a) overhang and subsequent influence on handling or (b) clearance of the bottom of the bucket over the front wheel when tipping.
And while your weight might counterbalance the load when you are on the bike, what happens while you are off the bike and filling up with your load? StephenH's suggestion of a trike overcomes some of this issue.
In fact, while I appreciate your ingenuity, I think Stephen's suggestion of using a trailer might be a better solution. Or a wheelbarrow.
#8
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,697
Likes: 12
Hotbike,
In my experience carrying heavy loads, the lower you keep the weight the better.
Handling and loading become squirrelly quickly when you have a high center of gravity.
Rather than a standard diamond frame maybe consider a Worksman trike for your frame.
https://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s...specialty.html
They are under three hundred dollars.
{edit}
Also since this is going to be a hard working utility vehicle, a stout undercarriage like the Worksman will be highly desirable.
I recommend using the NuVinci as a transmission.
In my experience carrying heavy loads, the lower you keep the weight the better.
Handling and loading become squirrelly quickly when you have a high center of gravity.
Rather than a standard diamond frame maybe consider a Worksman trike for your frame.
https://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s...specialty.html
They are under three hundred dollars.
{edit}
Also since this is going to be a hard working utility vehicle, a stout undercarriage like the Worksman will be highly desirable.
I recommend using the NuVinci as a transmission.
Last edited by Allen; 01-08-09 at 06:31 PM.
#9
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,788
Likes: 109
From: Long Island, New York
Bikes: a lowrider BMX, a mountain bike, a faired recumbent, and a loaded touring bike
Hotbike,
In my experience carrying heavy loads, the lower you keep the weight the better.
Handling and loading become squirrelly quickly when you have a high center of gravity.
Rather than a standard diamond frame maybe consider a Worksman trike for your frame.
https://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s...specialty.html
They are under three hundred dollars.
{edit}
Also since this is going to be a hard working utility vehicle, a stout undercarriage like the Worksman will be highly desirable.
I recommend using the NuVinci as a transmission.
In my experience carrying heavy loads, the lower you keep the weight the better.
Handling and loading become squirrelly quickly when you have a high center of gravity.
Rather than a standard diamond frame maybe consider a Worksman trike for your frame.
https://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s...specialty.html
They are under three hundred dollars.
{edit}
Also since this is going to be a hard working utility vehicle, a stout undercarriage like the Worksman will be highly desirable.
I recommend using the NuVinci as a transmission.
The existing design has proved very sturdy. The weight of the load *improves* the handling, IMHO. It is easy to ride with no-hands when the box is loaded.
#10
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,788
Likes: 109
From: Long Island, New York
Bikes: a lowrider BMX, a mountain bike, a faired recumbent, and a loaded touring bike
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,697
Likes: 12
No, I don't think it will be a problem. The fairing or box is mounted to the head-tube, so it is frame mounted. It does not turn with the handlebars.
The existing design has proved very sturdy. The weight of the load *improves* the handling, IMHO. It is easy to ride with no-hands when the box is loaded.
The existing design has proved very sturdy. The weight of the load *improves* the handling, IMHO. It is easy to ride with no-hands when the box is loaded.
A high CG bike is difficult to handle, especially when starting.
Hang a 50 pound bag of sand off of your handle bars and give it a try before you start cutting glass cloth.
Good luck with it.
--Allen
#12
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,788
Likes: 109
From: Long Island, New York
Bikes: a lowrider BMX, a mountain bike, a faired recumbent, and a loaded touring bike
Oh, I forgot, the painting shows a 20 inch wheel BMX bike, not the 24 inch wheel ladies bike. I want to make the Cg lower.





